IndyCar driver Colton Herta has completed a two-day Formula One test with McLaren at Portimao and says: “I think I’m fast enough “
Colton Herta, who has seven wins and eight pole positions since joining the IndyCar Series in 2019, tested last year’s McLaren MCL35M this week, completing 162 laps over two days at the 4.653-kilometre Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.
Although the race was run on a track for which McLaren has data thanks to hosting the Portuguese Grands Prix, Herta insists that it is difficult to compare with the lap times of the Formula One regulars in the MCL35M.
“This is a track that is so difficult to understand because of the winds and so many different factors,” he explains. “It’s also a bit cooler than race weekend. “
“I was happy with the lap time, but we have a slightly different tyre than on a race weekend. And if you look at what a lot of guys were saying from a year ago, they were talking about how windy it is here and how much that can change the car from corner to corner.”
As far as lap times are concerned, he said it was therefore difficult to compare. “I think the engineers will know from the data whether you are fast or not,” Herta said.
Herta has boosted confidence
When asked if he is confident he can be competitive in Formula 1, the 22-year-old replied, “Yes, yes … You can’t answer no to that question, otherwise you wouldn’t be a professional driver. So yes, I think I’m fast enough. “
“Whether they agree with me, time will tell, and hopefully I get more chances in the car and I can show it.” It’s not for nothing that the US American says he would be interested in FT1 outings later in the year, although he admits they would be less helpful in terms of track time available.
“Friday practice is certainly something I’d be open to,” says Herta. “As far as test days allowed, there’s nothing better because you have the whole track to yourself. You have all that time in the car, which of course you don’t have in 60 minutes in FT1. “
Not one but two tests for the team today! @ColtonHerta continues his test in Portimão while @DanielRicciardo tests in Austria!
Let’s go boys! pic.twitter.com/i7jZexzEOn
– McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 12, 2022
But it would be cool to get a taste of the 2022 cars and see how they compare to this car. So yeah, I’d be up for it.”
The IndyCar driver described his first Formula 1 test as “a lot of fun” and was deeply impressed by the car’s acceleration. “I think the first thing I noticed when I came out of the pit lane was the incredible torque,” he enthused.
“Even driving at such low revs, it still pulls. That was the most important thing for me – the straight line speed, acceleration and braking. Of course, the cornering speed was higher than in an IndyCar, but that didn’t stand out to me as much as the impressive acceleration. “
The biggest differences to IndyCar
As for the cornering, Herta admits, “It’s a completely different feeling. The feeling you get in an IndyCar is completely different because there is no power steering. So you had to get used to that – slowing your hands down.”
“And of course the pace is much higher on the street circuits, but overall it was good to get a feel for what these things can do,” the 22-year-old said.
The test was also long enough, he said, for him to delve deeply into the constant fine-tuning that is possible in the set-up of a Formula One car: “We were able to try a lot of different things, a lot of different changes to the mechanical and aerodynamic balance of the car.”
“And then in the car itself I was able to play with all the tools, the different settings and all those things. It was pretty cool to see how the balance changes and what you can do with the car from inside. It was a bit more than what we can do in IndyCar.”
He felt comfortable “right off the bat”, he stresses, but admits, “The hardest part was getting a lap together. I think I was at the limit about halfway through the first day, but that was just single corners that ended up fitting together.”
“Then on the second day I managed to do it on complete laps – on low fuel, on high fuel and everything in between. But it took a while, for sure,” said Herta.
Herta said it was hard to say how many more days he would need to feel fully prepared “when you’re doing a test programme with a year-old car”. “But in terms of feeling comfortable, I felt very comfortable in the car,” he said.
“I could feel the limit. Maybe not with the consistency that would come with a few more days, but I felt I was close,” Herta is confident, making it clear that a move to Formula 1 “is a goal of mine, and has been for some time. “
Herta has Formula 1 promotion in his sights
The move should happen in two or three years – not ten. “I think if I waited that long it wouldn’t happen,” he says. “Nowadays, Formula 1 is definitely an industry for young men to get into. Luckily, I still have a bit of time if the opportunity arises.”
For now, though, he doesn’t give it much thought. “I will just try to drive as fast as I can and hopefully open some doors for myself at some point.”
Regarding Herta’s chances of taking a place in McLaren’s Formula 1 team in 2024, team boss Andreas Seidl is keeping a low profile. “The aim of this test, as Colton said, was to give him the opportunity to experience an F1 car for the first time and explore its performance. “
“That’s been the focus and what comes next is something that we’re taking step by step and we’re also taking our time on. That’s where we are at,” says Seidl.
“When you do these two test days, of course there are different test objectives,” he explains further. “Primarily it’s to give Colton the opportunity to get used to the car, but also to focus on working on different, let’s say, driving techniques.”
“Getting him used to the different aspects of a Formula One race weekend, for example comparing different tyre compounds, running different fuel loads, qualifying runs and race simulations. “
Team boss satisfied with first Herta test
With this in mind, he said the team had been “very impressed” with “how Colton had handled all these challenges and his professional approach”.
“And it was also nice to see that his physical preparation allowed him to really persevere during the two days, knowing how challenging it can be in a Formula 1 car on a track like Portimao,” Seidl points out.
“This approach and working with the team allowed him to find a good pace and gradually gain confidence. He has also always found the right balance between taking risks and keeping the car on track, which is obviously important in a test. “
Although Seidl agrees with Herta that a direct comparison of lap times with those of the McLaren drivers from last year is not possible, he says the team will study the data and assess Herta’s potential given the relative differences in track, weather and tyre compounds.
“Then we will have a better picture or a good idea,” Seidl says. “And of course that will be part of our assessment of what the next possible steps might be.” Meaning: on this basis, a decision will be made about possible FT1 deployments.
“As you know, we are obliged by the regulations to field a Formula 1 rookie in a first free practice twice this year. We plan to do that on race weekends sometime after the summer break. So we still have time to decide when and with whom to do that.”
In related news, the McLaren team boss confirmed Herta’s IndyCar rival Pato O’Ward was another driver under consideration. The Mexican currently drives for Arrow McLaren SP and is a championship contender for the third year in a row. He tested a Formula One car for the team last winter.
“In terms of further testing opportunities for Pato, we are in the process of evaluating those,” says Seidl. “He had a good test with us last year in Abu Dhabi, where we were very happy with how Pato prepared and performed during.”
“So I would say our first impression or conclusion, even if it sounds boring, is that we are happy with what both guys have shown so far. “
